If it weren’t for double meanings and the double entendre, pop culture and entertainment would have probably ceased to exist this year (no thanks to those pesky Mayans and their predictions). Showtime’s hit espionage drama “Homeland” featured a double-agent in Damien Lewis’ Nicholas Brody, a former prisoner-of-war who was “turned” by al-Qaeda and now threatens the United States; meanwhile Claire Danes’ Carrie Mathison is a CIA intelligence agent who suffers from bipolar disorder. NBC’s Thursday night comedy line-up (“30 Rock,” “Parks & Recreation” and “The Office”) is hysterically built around creative uses of the double entendre.
In that spirit we present our 2012 Pop Culture Year-In-Review, with all its double meanings.
Atlantis: NASA’s last shuttle to fly in space completed its final journey in November, docking at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex where it will be the centerpiece of a new exhibit opening next year. The final shuttle to arrive at a museum, Atlantis’ arrival serves as epilogue to the end of NASA’s 30-year space shuttle program. Meanwhile at sea or, more specifically, while arriving in port in Dominica, a gay couple aboard an Atlantis Cruise was arrested for performing a different type of docking on their stateroom balcony while the ship was being moored into port. Initially charged with buggery, Dennis Mayer and John Hart of Palm Springs later pled guilty to the less-inclusive charge of indecent exposure.
Big Bird: While Sesame Street’s most popular resident became an unlikely reference point in the 2012 presidential elections, pop songbird Adele flipped her middle finger when asked to cut her acceptance speech short at the Brit Awards.
Chippendale: The famed male performance troupe – and their pelvises – were first thrust into the 2012 spotlight thanks to the success of “Magic Mike,” a movie based on the life of its former-male-stripper star Channing Tatum. Meanwhile on TV, Team Chippendales – consisting of Jaymes and James, a gay/straight duo of the Vegas-based troupe’s dancers captured viewers’ hearts and a second-place finish on “The Amazing Race”on CBS. Not to be outdone, PBS’ “Downton Abbey” showcased chairs designed in the classic Chippendale architectural style in the show’s numerous dining room scenes.
Divas: On the good side, classic diva Martha Wash celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Weather Girls’ gay anthem “It’s Raining Men.” On the not-so-good side, former Mousketeer divas Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears failed to make a much of an impact with their latest projects; Aguilera’s latest album underperformed while Spears’ addition to the “X Factor” judging panel (along with diva-in-training Demi Lovato, replacing dancing diva Paula Abdul and ex-kitty-kat diva Nicole Scherzinger) led to a further decline in the show’s ratings. Also bad, new “American Idol” divas Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj had at least one publicized meltdown, and all before the show’s latest season has even started. (We figure it probably started shortly after they realized they’d each dueted with male diva Justin Beiber.) And of course, in the completely-devastating category were the unexpected deaths of iconic divas Whitney Houston and Donna Summer.
Erections: “This is me and I swear it’s not erect,” said U.S. Rowing Team member Henrik Rummel in response to internet speculation that he seemed a little more excited than his teammates while standing on the Olympic podium after receiving bronze medals for their third-place finish. “I don’t know why it ended up in that position but there you go,” Rummel said. Over in China, a 17-year-old boy who felt he was experiencing too many unwanted erections, decided to eliminate the source of the problem and removed his penis with a household knife.
Footballers: When Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo voiced his support for a Maryland ballot initiative that would legalize same-sex marriage in the state, Maryland state delegate Emmett C. Burns, Jr. (D-Baltimore) wrote a letter to Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti urging him to “inhibit such expressions” from his employee. Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe defended his fellow NFL-er in an open letter that said Burns’ violation of the First Amendment was “mindfuckingly, obscenely hypocritical.” Kluwe also said that making gay marriage legal “won’t magically turn you into a lustful cockmonster.” On British shores, Manchester United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard said European football supporters are too intolerant to accept a gay player, but insisted that “homosexuals are in need of a hero” in the sport. On his blog Lindegaard said, “My impression is that the players would not have a problem accepting a homosexual. The problem for me is that a lot of football fans are stuck in a time of intolerance that does not deserve to be compared with modern society’s development in the last decades. While the rest of the world has been more liberal, civilized and less prejudiced, the world of football remains stuck in the past when it comes to tolerance.”
Games: Summer was dominated by them, both Hunger and Olympic. The blockbuster film, adapted from the best-selling novel, gave moviegoers a glimpse of a dystopian future where teens chosen by lottery fight in a televised battle to the death. Meanwhile in London, a record 23 openly gay athletes competed in the Summer Olympics and 10 of them took home medals. The Games’ Closing Ceremonies also featured a plethora of iconic British acts, including Annie Lennox, George Michael, the Pet Shop Boys, and a reunited Spice Girls.
Happy Endings: It’s a show you should be watching but probably aren’t “and not just for Adam Pally - the most non-sterotyped gay character you’ll see on network television. It’s also what John Travolta was allegedly working towards, according to lawsuits filed by a cruise ship worker and at least three other male masseurs who each accused the star of committing a variety of inappropriate sexual acts. Hmmm, maybe Grease is the word.
i: Having attached itself to an endless supply of products, the lowercase became the most promiscuous letter of the English alphabet. In capitalized form it was equally popular in social media: reading a Tweet or Facebook post that was not about its narcissistic sender became practically impossible.
JCPenney: First, the legendary retailer named Ellen DeGeneres as their spokesperson and shrugged off controversy when One Million Moms protested the decision and claimed they’d shop elsewhere. Second, the retailer further embraced LGBT shoppers by releasing catalogues featuring same-sex families.
Koreans: North Korean scientists launched rockets while South Korean Women’s Badminton players (in addition to players from China and Indonesia) launched shuttlecocks into the net and purposely missed shots at the London Olympics. The teams deliberately tried to lose in order to secure an easier tournament draw. In all, four pairs in the women’s doubles competition were disqualified and kicked out of the Games. After dismounting his invisible horse, South Korean rapper Psy side-kicked his way to global prominence with his mega-hit “Gangnam Style.” By year’s end the video had become the most-watched clip ever on YouTube with over 983 million views.
Logo: Receiving makeovers this year were the corporate symbols for Microsoft, Wendy’s restaurants, Mastercard, and USA Today. Also receiving a makeover was Logo’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race” which saw its all-star contestants compete as teams en route to winning the title. Meanwhile, Kate McKinnon, an alum of the gay network’s “Big Gay Sketch Show,” became the first out lesbian to join the cast of NBC’s “Saturday Night Live; she quickly became the show’s breakout star causing many to ask, “Kristen who?”
Musicals: It used to be the term only applied to the stage and the silver screen, but thanks to NBC’s “Smash” joining Fox’s “Glee” on the airwaves, the pluralized format now also applies to television. At the movies, despite an all-star cast that featured Tom Cruise as the lead, “Rock of Ages” sunk like one at the box office, while “Les Miserables” won high praise from critics and an overflowing bread-basket of award nominations.
Normal: Equating homosexuality with normalcy, California adopted legislation banning “conversion” or “reparative” therapy aimed at changing the sexual orientation of minors who say they are gay. Thanks to “The New Normal,” the latest sitcom from “Glee” creator Ryan Murphy, the rainbow peacock network hasn’t looked this gay since “Will & Grace” left the airwaves. Unfortunately, CBS’s “Partners” a straight/gay buddy sitcom created by the straight/gay duo behind “W&G” – who modeled their newest show after their own lives – fell victim to low ratings and was cancelled by year’s end.
Out: In roughly a decade and a half the print media announcement of a celebrity’s sexuality went from a bold print headline splashed on a major magazine’s cover (ala Ellen DeGeneres) to a matter-of-fact statement buried several paragraphs into an interview (re: Jim Parsons, the Emmy-winning star of “The Big Bang Theory” in his “New York Times” profile.) Memorable exits this year included Kristen Wiig and Andy Samberg from “Saturday Night Live,” sad ad man Lane on “Mad Men,” Rick’s best friend Shane and wife Lori on “The Walking Dead,” Tim Tebow from the Denver Broncos, and General David Patreus from his position as head of the CIA after admitting to an extramarital affair.
Pope: Embracing 21st Century technology to deliver 17th Century messages (in only 140-characters or less!), His Holiness joined the Twitter-verse in December; days later in his annual address, Pope Benedict XVI called gay marriage “unnatural” and said that same-sex unions pose a threat to “justice and peace.” Embracing a slightly more tolerant view was 13-year old McKenna Pope who successfully led an online petition encouraging Hasbro to develop and market a gender-neutral Easy-Bake Oven in order to encourage more boys to learn the art of cooking. A prototype of the redesigned oven, expected to be released in time for the toy’s 50th anniversary next year, is black, silver and blue, rather than purple and pink.
Queen: England’s Royal Majesty dropped in to the Summer Olympics’ Opening Ceremonies, unknowingly (and literally) promoting Fall’s upcoming James Bond film “Skyfall.” Madonna, the Queen of Pop, regained her throne this year with a memorable Super Bowl halftime show that kicked off a global tour. Despite attracting controversy in nearly every country she performed, the MDNA tour tour sold over $228 million in tickets, becoming the highest-grossing tour of 2012.
Retro: Sensing that the last several decades’ worth of trends had been plucked dry, 2012 fashion designers and mainstream radio went wayyyyy back for inspiration. Proving that plaid designs aren’t only worn by lesbians and beards aren’t just for bears anymore, Hipsters embraced both, typically accessorized with scarves, glasses, hats, and Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. At the forefront of a roots revival, Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers topped music charts, award nominations, and critics’ “Best Of” lists with a sound heavily influenced by early Americana folk and bluegrass.
Silver: The 2012 Color of the Year! (And no, not just because it’s bright and sparkly.) Gay geek Nate Silver correctly predicted the winner of all 50 states and the District of Columbia in this year’s presidential election, while Silver Fox Anderson Cooper officially came out. In doing so, Cooper said by remaining silent about his sexuality he had quite possibly given the wrong impression that he was trying to hide something. “I’m gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud,” Cooper said.
Tanned Hides – New Jersey mom Patricia Krentcil was charged with child endangerment for allegedly letting her 6-year-old daughter go in a tanning booth, invoking the wrath of a nation. And MILFs around the world were introduced to having their backsides slapped, among other S&M fun and games, thanks to the bestseller “Fifty Shades of Gray.”
Underdressed: In the from-the-waist-up category, Kate Middleton was photographed topless on vacation while fellow royal Prince Harry was caught naked playing with his billiard balls. Anne Hathaway accidentally “pulled a Britney” while getting out of a limo at the “Les Miserables” red carpet premiere, and U.S. gymnast Danell Leyva was seen pummeling a horse of another kind.
Viral: Though the song was originally released in 2011, it took but a Tweet from Justin Beiber this year to launch Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” into the stratosphere. Seemingly everyone and their mother posted their lip-synced and parody versions to YouTube, from the U.S. Swim Team and the Miami Dolphin Cheerleaders to American troops stationed in Afghanistan and the Cookie Monster. The song was also considered to be the year’s most wide-spread earworm “the viral infection phenomenon that occurs when a piece of music becomes stuck in the listener’s head, even when it’s not being played.
Wi(i)g: With a collection of hairpieces that would make any drag queen jealous, Nicki Minaj gained fame not just for her talent but for what she was wearing on her head. And after seven incredibly successful seasons, the actress behind characters such as movie critic Aunt Linda, small-handed singer Dooneese Maharelle, and the Target Lady, left “Saturday Night Live.”
X-Men: Northstar, a member of Marvel Comics’ famed superhero team, married his longtime boyfriend in June. Meanwhile, DC Comics’ original Green Lantern Alan Scott (not Ryan Reynolds, sadly) came out, and Archie Comics’ first gay character Kevin Keller wed his man Clay in that comics’ first-ever same-sex wedding. (Keller even met his husband-to-be while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.) Becoming (e)x-men this year: Tom Cruise, from Katie Holmes; Seal, from Heidi Klum; and Will Arnett, from Amy Poehler.
Young: Following the overwhelming success of Twilight Saga and the first film adaptation from “The Hunger Games” trilogy, Hollywood began stockpiling the rights to numerous young adult titles, sometimes before the books were even written. Though released in 2011, it wasn’t until this year that music lovers really discovered that the musical group Fun was, indeed, young. In addition to becoming a radio hit, “We Are Young” was also embraced by a number of television shows, and was also used in ad campaigns for Chevrolet and Apple.
Zooey: As in Deschanel (as if there were any others) continued her dual careers. As an actress she continued as TV’s “New Girl,” as a singer she fronted the group She & Him. Throughout both she remained quirky and “adorkable.”
A-Z signs we thought the Mayans were right:
- Anderson Cooper experiences temporary blindness, unable to see self in mirror
- Boo Boo, Honey
- Clint Eastwood’s attempt at stand-up comedy at the GOP Convention
- Dina Lohan
- “Epic” – Unless you’re referring to the “Illiad”or the “Odyssey,” you’re using this term incorrectly. Please stop.
- Fast food chicken sandwich restaurants vs gay marriage
- Grindr gets name-checked on “The Office”
- Hip-hop embraces gay artist Frank Ocean
- Isaac hits Florida just as the GOP invades Tampa
- Jackson heirs accuse family of kidnapping grandmother Katherine
- Kardashians, all
- Lindsey Lohan
- Makeover of Fantasyland completed early
- Nerds rule, thanks to”Game of Thrones”and”The Hobbit”
- Oprah’s anticipated return to mainstream television never materializes
- Political ads
- Quarterback Tim Tebow’s personal and professional rejections
- Rihanna records a sexually suggestive duet with Chris Brown
- Sesame Street grows up, thanks to Romney’s proposed firing of Big Bird and Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash’s sex scandal
- Trump becomes game show host, offers cash and prizes for Obama records
- USED TO KNOW repeated ad nauseam in Gotye hit
- Voting issues in Florida, again
- Weather-related tragedies, such as Superstorm Sandy
- X-Factor judge Britney Spears’ reaction faces
- Yummy, delicious Twinkies die
- Zimmerman, George
